Jewelry display mount and showcase

ABSTRACT

A jewelry display mount and a jewelry display case or showcase are provided. The display mount and display case are configured to display jewelry, including larger pieces of jewelry and earrings, and allow the mount to stand approximately upright or near upright in the case and in the jewelry box. The base of the display mount is designed to be cooperatively received in a slot in the shelf of the display case when displayed, and in a slot provided in or on a jewelry box when sold or transported. The jewelry display cases are provided in configurations of 2, 3 and 4 display case arrangements

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of jewelry displays orshowcases and jewelry mounts, and more particularly, to jewelry mountsand cases for larger pieces of jewelry, including earrings, bracelets,bangles and necklaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Earrings, particularly hoop earrings, are typically sold and displayedin self included jewelry boxes 10, samples of which are shown in FIG. 1.Each conventional jewelry box 10 has a bottom container 11 and anopenable cover 12, with hinges 13 connecting the bottom container 11 andthe cover 12 as shown in FIG. 2 in the open position. Each pair ofearrings is hung on a display mount 20 which comprises a base (notvisible in FIGS. 1 and 2) generally of a square shape, which fits thecontour of the bottom portion of the box, and an inwardly tapering stem21 that has at its ends a pair of dog-ears 23, each ear including aperforation 24 via which each earring of the pair can be mounted asshown. The base and the stem 21 of the display mount are pivotable sothat the stem 21 can be lifted relative to the base or bent downwardinto the box 10 when the cover 12 of the display box is closed. Thedisplay box 10 will not bend or squeeze or otherwise deform the earrings15. For a typical earring display box 10 of the prior art, the width andthe depth are each approximately 2.5 inches, and the height in theclosed position is approximately 1 inch, for a total volume ofapproximately 6.25 square inches. FIG. 2 shows the hinge connecting thecover and the base of the display box. It will be understood that alldimensions provided herein are only for purposes of example, andsubstantial variation of one or more of these dimensions may beundertaken without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In stores or at other venues where jewelry is displayed, each pair ofearrings 15 is pre-housed in its display box 10, and the boxes areconventionally displayed together in a see-through display case 30 asshown in FIG. 3. The display case typically has five shelves 31 a, 31 b,31 c, 31 d and 31 e, as shown FIG. 4, each shelf with room for fourjewelry boxes, for a total of 20 pairs of earrings on each side of thedisplay case, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The display case 30 is mountedon a pedestal 35, which allows the case 30 to rotate to expose a similarset of five shelves on the rear side of the case 30, each shelf housingfour jewelry boxes, whereby the rotatable display can house a total of40 pairs of earrings.

Thus, FIG. 1 shows a set of four jewelry boxes and their earrings, FIG.2 shows a back of the box 10 and the hinge 13, and FIG. 3 shows thefront side of the display. FIG. 4 shows the display case of FIG. 3 withthe front door 36 opened and one shelf-full of jewelry boxes removed andplaced at the top 33 of the display case, thus showing the back side ofthe jewelry boxes on the other side of the display case, including theirhinges. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the side and front of a priorart jewelry box with the display mount 20 and the earrings 15 mounted onthe display mount 20 removed from the box.

FIG. 5 illustrates one of the problems that the present invention isintended to solve or ameliorate. Shown on the left in FIG. 5 is aconventional jewelry box 10 and earrings 15. Earring fashion changes allthe time and earring hoop sizes have undergone tremendous changes. Aprior art-type jewelry box for a pair of earrings for the large sizeearring hoop would be on the order of 4.5 by 4.5 by 3 inches, a volumealmost 10 times as large as traditional boxes. Such jewelry boxes couldnot be packaged and displayed in their opened position in theconventional display case shown 30 of the type shown in FIG. 4. Adisplay case sufficiently large to house a comparable number of jewelryboxes of such size would have to be very large indeed and unsuitable tobe displayed and carried in a convenient manner. Shown on the right inFIG. 5 is a jewelry mount 50 according to an aspect of the presentinvention, with earrings 55 mounted thereon as described hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A jewelry display mount and a jewelry display case or showcase areprovided. The display mount and display case are configured to displayjewelry, including larger pieces of jewelry and earrings, and allow themount to stand substantially or approximately upright or near upright inthe case and in the jewelry box. The base of the display mount isdesigned to be cooperatively received in a slot in the shelf of thedisplay case when displayed, and in a slot provided in or on a jewelrybox when sold or transported.

Generally the present invention comprises a jewelry display device andassociated display case therefor configured for holding and displayingmultiple items of jewelry. The display case has at least one shelf forplacement and support of a plurality of jewelry display devices withitems of jewelry thereon. The shelf has a retaining element for holdingthe display device in a substantially upright display position. Thedisplay device comprises a mount element having a substantially uprightmember with at least one support element on the member configured forholding an item of jewelry in a substantially forward viewing position,the member further comprises a supporting base having an engagingelement which is configured to be cooperatively removably held in aretaining element of the supporting shelf such as a slot. A jewelry boxfor the jewelry item is configured to contain the jewelry item anddisplay device and is preferably provided with a slot therein forengagement with the engaging element. The exterior of the jewelry boxmay also be provided with a slot to provide an individual display of thejewelry item on a supported display device.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of four conventional jewelry boxes;

FIG. 2 is a back view of a conventional jewelry box with a bottomportion 11 and top portion 12 connected by hinges 13;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a conventional jewelry case with five shelvesof jewelry boxes;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a conventional jewelry case with a door in anopen position;

FIG. 5 shows on the left a perspective view of a conventional jewelrybox, and on the right a jewelry mount according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a jewelry mount according to the present invention withearrings mounted thereon;

FIG. 7 is a jewelry case and jewelry mounts positioned therein accordingto an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a jewelry case according to an aspect ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is a conventional jewelry box with a conventional jewelry mountremoved therefrom;

FIG. 10 is a close-up view of a jewelry case and jewelry mountsaccording to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a conventional jewelry case on the right, andon the left a side view of a jewelry case according to an aspect of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a jewelry mount according to an aspectof the present invention removed from the inventive jewelry case;

FIG. 13 is a close-up front view of the display case showing an array offour slots in a shelf of the display case;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic illustrations that show, respectively,slots in a side of the box inside the box, and a slot on top of the boxfor receiving the jewelry mount according to an aspect of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a box with a cover over the slot on topof the box into which the mount according to an aspect of the presentinvention is slid;

FIGS. 16A-E are alternative designs for the cover over the slot on topof the box.

FIGS. 17A-C are jewelry mounts in accordance with other aspects of thepresent invention for a pendant necklace, ring and bangle bracelet,respectively;

FIG. 18 is another embodiment of the present invention of a slottedbracelet mount and supporting stand;

FIGS. 19A-C are side views of display case arrangements for displayingjewelry on mounts of the present invention, having 2, 3 and 4 displaysides respectively;

FIGS. 20A-C are top views of the display case arrangements of FIGS.19A-C, respectively; and

FIG. 21 is an expanded and exploded view of the display case arrangementof FIGS. 19A and 20A showing jewelry mounts and placement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A jewelry mount 50 as shown in FIG. 6, includes a small base portion 51,shown in this exemplary embodiment as approximately 2 centimeters longand wide, a stem 52, approximately 10 centimeter long, and a dog-earportion 53. The width along the dog-ear portion may be comparable todog-ear portion of a mount in the prior art. The mount 50 may alsoinclude an aperture 57 on the right side 54 a and an aperture 57 on theleft side 54 b of the dog-ear portion 53, though which a clasp of theearring 55 can be slid for mounting on the mount 50. Alternatively, thedog-ear portion can have slits on each side as shown in FIG. 1, formounting the earring 55. This type of mount with the earrings insertedin or on the mount would certainly not fit in the conventional jewelrybox. Such a mount 50 may be made of a variety of materials of structuredintegrity, such as plastic, PVC, a foam material, injection molding,cardboard, metal, glass, wood or a combination of the foregoing.According to an aspect of the present invention, the base 51 and thestem 52 of the mount 50 are made of a stiff material to achieve anupright look for the mount 50 even when larger pieces of jewelry 55 areattached or secured to the mount 50.

FIG. 7 illustrates a display case 60 according to an aspect of thepresent invention, which in this embodiment is approximately the sameheight and width as the display case 30 of the prior art but about twoinches narrower. Forty pairs of earring hoops can be easilyaccommodated, and the presentation and salability of the displayedearrings may be improved. Thus in accordance with the present invention,forty earring pairs of the type stored in a display mount 50 shown inFIG. 6 can be mounted on five shelves 61 a, 61 b, 61 c, 61 d and 61 e ofdisplay case 60 shown in FIG. 7, with 20 pairs on each side of thedisplay. However, it will be understood that fewer or more shelves maybe positioned in the case 60, depending on the size of the jewelry to bedisplayed and the size of the case 60. The door 68 is opened from theleft to the right, but can be created to work in the opposite direction.Such a display case 60 may be made of a variety of materials, such asplastic, PVC, a foam material, injection molding, cardboard, metal,glass, wood or a combination of the foregoing. Also shown in FIG. 7 arethree sets of hinges 62 for attaching the door 68 of the display case 60such that it can be opened and closed, and a lock 69 for the door. Thedoor may be made of glass or clear plastic, or of materials of which theremainder of the display case 60 is made.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the display case 60according to an aspect of the present invention. Each side of thedisplay case 60 may have five shelves 61 a, 61 b, 61 c, 61 d and 61 eencased in a transparent plastic housing. Each of the shelves 61 a, 61b, 61 c, 61 d and 61 e may have a deeper bottom portion 74 approximatelyhalf the size of the upper portion 75, and between these two portions ofeach shelf there may be four slots 66 a, 66 b, 66 c, and 66 d (shown inFIGS. 10 and 13), which are wide and thick enough to receive the base 51of the mounting display 50 shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 shows an array of slots 66 a, 66 b, 66 c, and 66 d evenly spacedon a shelf of the display case 60, according to an aspect of the presentinvention. Accordingly, the array of evenly spaced slots 66 a, 66 b, 66c, and 66 d on each shelf of the display may be neatly aligned withsimilarly spaced slots on the shelves above and below it in the displaycase 60 to provide an attractive symmetrical appearance to the jewelrybeing displayed, as shown for example in FIG. 7, which shows four neatcolumns of jewelry arrayed on five shelves on one side of the displaycase 60. Accordingly, a fully loaded display case 60 will have jewelryneatly displayed on mounts held securely in an upright manner.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the slots 66 a, 66 b,66 c, and 66 d on each shelf must be sufficiently wide, and ofsufficient height and depth, to receivingly accommodate the base 51 ofeach jewelry mount 50, such that when the base 51 of the jewelry mount50 is inserted into any of the slots 66 a, 66 b, 66 c, or 66 d, thejewelry mount 50, together with the weight of the jewelry 55 attachedthereto or fixed thereon, is secured in the slot in an upright manner,for example at an angle of 90 degrees, or at near 90 degrees, withrespect to the shelf. At the same time, each of the slots 66 a, 66 b, 66c, and 66 d must receivingly accommodate the jewelry mount 50 in such away that the jewelry mount 50 may be easily and conveniently inserted orremoved from the slots by a potential customer or by the jewelry storeattendant. Thus, any of the jewelry mounts 50 must cooperate with any ofthe slots 66 a, 66 b, 66 c, and 66 d in an interchangeable manner,without access wiggle room in the slots on the sides or on the top orbottom of mount 50, must be held in an upright manner by the slots 66 a,66 b, 66 c, and 66 d, but the slots 66 a, 66 b, 66 c, and 66 d mustaccommodate the mount 50 in such a manner that the mount 50 can beconveniently inserted into or removed. Such wiggle room in any of theslots 66 a, 66 b, 66 c, and 66 d might cause the mount 50 to shiftslightly toward one side, or to lean in or out with respect to the topsurface of the shelf, and thereby destroy the neat and symmetricaldisplay provided together by all the mounts with jewelry. Such a neatand symmetrical appearance is another synergy that may arise from thecombination of the inventive display case 60 with slots 66 a, 66 b, 66c, and 66 d, and the inventive mount 50.

Further instead of single slots, each slot may be comprised of twotongues, one on each side, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B in connectionwith the jewelry box 80. These tongues may be positioned on top of eachshelf, instead of as slot inside the shelf 61 between the bottom portion74 and the upper portion 75. When the base portion 51 of the mount 50 istucked in between the bottom portion 74 and top portion 75 it slidesinto the slot 66 shown in FIG. 10 of the display case 60 such that theearrings 55 stand upright as shown in FIG. 10, or near upright.Alternatively, the mount may stand at an oblique angle leaning towardthe back of the case 60.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the height between theshelves may be approximately 5 inches, and the width of the showcase maybe approximately 7 inches, which is approximately 2 inches narrower thanthe case of the prior art, even though the jewelry case according to thepresent invention houses as many earring pairs where each earring pairmay be much larger than those housed in the prior art. FIG. 11 shows theconventional case 30 on the right and an embodiment of the jewelry case60 according to the present invention on the left.

FIG. 12 illustrates a display mount 50 with a pair of earrings 55thereon that has been removed from the slot 66 in one of the shelves 61.According to an aspect of the invention, a customer can easily remove amount 50 from the showcase and hold it against his or her ear to checkfor fit and look in a mirror 77 provided at the side of the display case60.

If desired, the shelving in the display case 50 can be mountedadjustably so that the height between shelves can be adjusted, forexample, to accommodate large hoop earrings of different diameters. Someof the shelves may be provided with the room for traditional jewelrydisplay boxes while others may be configured to provide for displaymounts of the type described herein for the large hoops.

The earring 55 may be taken together with the display mount 50 andplaced in a box 80 as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B where the base 51 ofthe mount 50 is slid into a holding slot 86 at the side of the box 80and provided to the customer to take away. Such a box is also shown inFIG. 15. As shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B and 15, the box can have a similarslot 86 on the top thereof so that the jewelry mount with the jewelrycan be displayed separate from the display case at the point of sale orat the customer's home. The box 80 may also have lids so that the box 80can be closed. As another option, the box 80 in which the customer cantake the earrings home may be provided in a form of collapsable box thatcan be opened. More typically they would be provided in a shape similarto the prior art boxes but in much larger sizes, for example 4.5 inch by4.5 inch by approximately 2 inches high.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of an open box 80 into which the jewelrymount according to the present invention can be slid. The slot accordingto an embodiment shown in FIG. 14A may be comprised of two tongues 87 aand 87 b, each tongue forming a side of the slot for receiving the base51 of the jewelry mount 50. The same type of slot comprised of tongues87 a and 87 b is shown in FIG. 14B located on top of the box 80.

FIG. 15 shows box 80 with a slot 86 located on top thereof. Also shownin FIG. 15 is a decorative cover 89 positioned on top of the slotillustrated in this embodiment as a heart-shaped cover. FIGS. 16A-E showvarious other designs for the cover on top of the slot, FIG. 16A showinga five-point star-shaped cover, FIG. 16B showing a flat heart, FIG. 16Cshowing a diamond, FIG. 16D showing a bow tie, and FIG. 16E showing aflower-shaped mount cover. However, it will be understood that othersuch designs may be provided in addition to or instead of the covershapes shown in FIGS. 16A-E.

FIGS. 17A-C and 21 depict jewelry mounts 150, 151 and 152 suitable foruse with pendant necklace 160, ring 161 and bracelet 162, respectively.Jewelry mount 150 is shown with notch cutouts 150′ and 150″ at an upperedge to permit a necklace 160 to be fitted and gravitationally securelyheld within the notches and adjusted to display pendant 160 a. As withthe embodiments, shown with respect to hoop earrings 55, the baseportion 150 a has a tuck tab 150 b for insertion within support holdingslots or tongues as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B.

Slots 151′ and 152′ are sized to adjustably frictionally engage and holdinserted ring 161 and bracelet 162 respectively but in a substantiallyupright position for ready forward for front full view display. FIG. 21depicts jewelry mounts 150, 151 and 152 placed on shelf tiers 101, 102and 103 respectively of display stand 100, with tabs 150 b, 151 b and152 b tucked into slots 101′, 102′ and 103′, respectively for holdingsupport. It is noted that display stands with tiers sometimes haveobstructed downward views as shown in FIG. 21 with an upper tier (e.g.,102) partially blocking a lower tier (e.g., 101), depending on theheight of the display and viewer. Access of a front full view and accesswith an upright display is the most desirable.

In another embodiment shown of a bracelet mount 252 in FIG. 18, themount is provided with an extending insert element 252′ sized to befrictionally inserted into any of slots 261-264 of base shelf 260. Mount252 has a slot 253 opening upward into slot 254 through which bracelet270 is positioned and held for display.

Display case arrangement 300, 310 and 320 shown in FIGS. 19A-C each havesix tier displays and shelves (101-106) for each display case unit 100with, as shown, four display mounts of the types shown in FIGS. 7 and17A-C on each shelf, with each tier or shelf having a single type ofmount.

As more clearly seen in FIGS. 20A-C, display case arrangements 300, 310and 320 are comprised of 2, 3 and 4 individual display stands 100respectively, with each display stand holding 24 mounts with assortedjewelry and facing outwardly relative to the center of the rotatabledisplay stand.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.Therefore, the present invention should be limited not by the specificdisclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

1. A jewelry display device and associated display case thereforconfigured for holding and displaying jewelry, the display case havingat least one supporting shelf for placement and support of a pluralityof jewelry display devices thereon with the shelf having a retainingelement for holding the device in an upright display position, thedisplay device comprising a mount element having a substantially uprightmember with at least one support element on the member configured forholding an item of jewelry in a substantially forward viewing position,the member further comprising a supporting base with the supporting basehaving an engaging element to be cooperatively removably held in aretaining element of the supporting shelf.
 2. The jewelry display deviceand associated display case therefor of claim 1, wherein the supportelement comprises at least one laterally extending ear section to whichan article of jewelry may be pendantly attached.
 3. The jewelry displaydevice and associated display case therefor of claim 2, wherein two earsections laterally extend from opposite sides of the upright member witheach ear section being configured to hold and display a hoop earring. 4.The jewelry display device and associated display case therefor of claim2, wherein each ear section is provided with one of a perforation andslot configured for placement of a portion of an earring therein fordisplay support thereof.
 5. The jewelry display device and associateddisplay case therefor device of claim 1, wherein the mount elementcomprises an upright elongated element of structural integrity having atleast one notch at an upper periphery thereof with the notch configuredto accept and hold an article of jewelry therewithin.
 6. The jewelrydisplay device and associated display case therefor device of claim 5,wherein the elongated element is configured to hold and display anecklace with a pendant, with the at least one notch configured toaccept and hold the necklace in a position to provide the pendant in theforward viewing position.
 7. The jewelry display device and associateddisplay case therefor device of claim 5, wherein the article of jewelryis a bracelet and the elongated element is configured to support anddisplay the bracelet.
 8. The jewelry display device and associateddisplay case therefor device of claim 1, wherein the mount elementcomprises at least one elongated element of structural integrity havingan aperture therein with the aperture configured to accept and hold anarticle of jewelry in a substantially forward viewing position.
 9. Thejewelry display device and associated display case therefor of claim 8,wherein the mount element comprises at least one elongated element ofstructural integrity having an aperture therein with the apertureconfigured to frictionally accept and hold an article of jewelry in thesubstantially forward viewing position.
 10. The jewelry display deviceand associated display case therefor of claim 8, wherein the article ofjewelry is selected from rings and bangle bracelets.
 11. The jewelrydisplay device and associated display case therefor wherein thesupporting shelf comprises a holding slot device of claim 1, wherein thebase of the mount element comprises a free extension end configured tobe inserted in to a slot of the supporting shelf to provide thecooperatively removable holding of the base and the mount element and tomaintain the mount element member in the substantially upright position.12. The jewelry display device and associated display case therefor ofclaim 11, wherein the free extension end is sized to fit snugly into theslot without shifting.
 13. The jewelry display device and associateddisplay case therefor of claim 11, wherein the slot is formed byelevated tongue elements laterally extending toward each other.
 14. Thejewelry display device and associated display case therefor of claim 11,wherein the device further comprises an associated jewelry box intowhich the mount element, with item of jewelry, is configured for storageplacement, after removal of the jewelry display device and item ofjewelry from the display case, with the jewelry box having a slottherein for placement and holding of the free extension end of the mountelement.
 15. The jewelry display device and associated display casetherefor of claim 14, wherein the device further comprises an associatedjewelry box into which the mount element with item of jewelry isconfigured for storage placement, after removal of the jewelry displaydevice and item of jewelry from the display case, with the jewelry boxhaving a slot thereon for supporting engagement with the free extensionend of the mount element for display positioning of the item of jewelryand display device on the box.
 16. A vertical jewelry display casetherefor having at least two display shelves, with each shelf configuredas a supporting shelf having slot elements configured to respectivelyhold at least two jewelry display devices of claim 1, the shelves beingarranged in a vertically spaced apart configuration with a spacingsufficient to accommodate the height of the jewelry display device witha forward viewing positioning of the jewelry display device andsupported item of jewelry thereon.
 17. A jewelry display casearrangement comprising at least two vertical jewelry display cases ofclaim 16 arranged in closely juxtaposed minimal footprint configurationof parallel display stands on a rotatable stand each display case facingaway from the other.
 18. A jewelry display case arrangement thereforcomprising three vertical jewelry display cases of claim 16, in aconfiguration of three display cases arranged in a triangle on arotatable stand with each display cases facing away from a center of thetriangle.
 19. A jewelry display case arrangement therefor comprisingfour vertical jewelry display cases of claim 16, in configuration offour display cases arranged in a square on a rotatable stand with eachdisplay case facing away from a center of the square.